Mobile Lab Hits the Roads of Shirak

November 23, 2005

Yerevan — November 23, 2005 — The Mobile Lab is an innovative project that created a Mobile Internet Computer Center to serve rural and remote communities in Armenia deprived of minimal communication means and in need of access to information, communication, and basic computer literacy. The Mobile Lab will hit the roads of the Shirak region on November 29, 2005, with a ribbon cutting ceremony in Gyumri at 1:00 p.m. The Mobile Lab is a component of the Armenia School Connectivity Program (ASCP), a Program of the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs funded through FREEDOM Support Act.

The Mobile Lab is the first of its kind in Eurasia and will serve 20 remote communities in the Shirak region. The Mobile Lab is equipped with computer workstations and satellite connection to provide Internet access. In addition to the hardware and Internet connection, the Mobile Lab will provide free computer training for students and teachers of the villages, as well as neighboring village schools. For these remote villages, the Mobile Lab will offer an expanded worldview and exposure to new information, and will allow students from rural communities to connect with others.

The Mobile Lab will remain in each of the 20 villages for a set amount of time and will later return to the communities to allow users to continue developing their skills. The Mobile Lab will serve over 6300 people, including over 1200 students and 280 teachers, as well as many refugees, persons with disabilities, and unemployed citizens.